Sloppy FPU outslugged at World Series

Errors, walks, wild pitches and a lack of timely hits combined to hurt the Ravens on Monday.

Franklin Pierce University almost erased a six-run deficit but eventually lost, 10-5, to Minnesota State-Mankato in the second round of the NCAA Division II World Series at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.

.The Ravens (37-18) saw their four-game winning streak end in the double-elimination tournament. The Ravens will face Grand Valley State on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in a losers' bracket contest.

Franklin Pierce out-hit the Mavericks 12-11 as Dan Kemp led the way with four. Derry's Zach Mathieu had two of his team's five RBIs. He has driven in 39 runs this season...Franklin Pierce starter Steve Hathaway suffered the mound loss. In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed three hits and three runs.

Down 6-0 after four innings, Franklin Pierce mounted a comeback, scoring their first run in the fifth inning. Matt Walsh doubled, went to third on a single from John Razzino and scored on a base hit from Matthew O'Herron...In the seventh inning, the Ravens rallied for four runs after the first two batters were retired. O'Herron reached on an infield error and advanced to second on a single to center from Justin Brock.

Calvin Graves plated O'Herron with a single to right field and Kemp followed with a run-producing single to center to close the gap to 6-3...After a pitching change, Mathieu laced a two-run double to center, bringing the Ravens within a run.

Nick LaCroix walked, leaving Mathieu at second, but Walsh struck out swinging to end the inning.

In the eighth inning, Franklin Pierce threatened to take the lead with runners on second and third and two outs, but Graves popped out to second base, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs...In the home eighth the Mavericks extended the lead to 10-5, scoring four runs to ice the game.

It was an uphill climb for the Ravens, starting in the first inning when Lucas Skjefte launched a first inning solo homer for the Mavericks...The Mavericks scored five times in the third inning, taking advantage of three fielding errors, two wild pitches and three walks for the early 6-0 cushion...